Inclosed-switch construction.



UNITED STATES PAT CLARENCE ID. PLATE, @F BRDGE?OBIT, GDNNECTKCUT.

INCLGSED-SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 8, 1918.

Application tiled April G, 1917. Serial No. 160,179.

.,The main object is to provide a simple tion and not under` the control 15' Y Another object isto provide means for autoland reliable form of such construction in which the switch is quick break in its acof the operator after the switch has started to open.

maticallyopening the circuit when the box .is opened and also means for automatically opening the circuit when closing the box. Another object is to provide a simple means for permitting locking of the switch in the open circuit position.

Briefly considered the invention contemplates/an inclsed t pe of switch having contacts adapted to e operated in\ one direction by springs and in the opposite direction' by means of a handle. This handle has a limited free movement with relation to the operatin shaft and the cover, box, operating han le and shaft are so arranged and constructed as to effect the desired result abev': indicated. The handle, box and cover are provided with openings which are located adjacent each other when the box is closed with the circuit open so that a padlock or sealing wire may be attached for preventing the o eration of the switch.

Figure l, is a ront view of a construction embodying the improvements of my invern tion suggesting by dotted lines the interior switch construction.

Fig. 2, is a side view showing in full lines the operating handle in the open circuit position and showing in dotted lines the position of the switch in the open circuit position.

Fig. 3, is a side view showing the parts in fulll lines in the closed circuit position and in dotted lines showing the position of the parts when the cover is partially opened when the switch is in the closed circuit position.

Fig. 4, is a side View with parts broken away showing the cover open and the switch in the closed circuit position.

The interior switch mechanism may be of any suitable character for instance such as The handle is L 25 spaced apart from the lug 23 a suiiithat shown in my application Serial No. 152256, filed March 3rd, 1917. In this construction the insulating base 10 carries upper and lower contacts such as 1l and 12 and a movable contact such as 13. The movable contact is carried by an insulating cross bar 14 which is normally pressed outward by springs l5, 15 against a shaft 16 having a central off-set or eccentric portion 17. This shaft has bearings in the body of the box 18. One end of the shaft outside the box is bent at right angles to form an arm- 19 with a hookdike elbow 20. The operating handle 21 is provided with a bushing 22 surrounding the shaft, and a lug 23 engaging the arm. This lug is preferably arranged to engage just beneath the elbow 20 and is formed by cutting into the body of the handle and bending it so as to obtain the maximum strength for operation of the switch. When the switch is in the open circuit' position the tension of the springs holds the operating handle down against the stop x24: which is carried by the side ofthe box. also provided with another cient distance so that when it is attempted to open the circuit the switch operating shaft will be allowel to operate freely under the impulse of the springs as soon as the off-set 17 passes to the lower side of the axis of the shaft. The springs thus open the circuit with a quick snap action and 1t is impossible for the operator to stop this action after it has once started.

The cover 26 is hinged to the body of the box at 27 and is provided with a shoulder 28 which in the position shown in 'Fig 3 is adapted to engage the lug 25 on the operating handle and automatically open the switch as the cover is opened.

It will be obvious that when the box is open the switch may vbe operated to open or close the circuit switch is left in the closed circuit position, the closing of the cover of the box will cause the shoulder or lug 28 to lift the operating handle and engage the elbow 20 and thus open the switch'. To facilitate this action the elbow 20 should be sufficiently inclined relative to the arm 23 and the position of the shaft so as to insure a sort of cam action of the shoulder 28 against the elbow in the act of closing theVv cover.

To facilitate the locking of the switch the cover is provided with a hole 30, the body ofthe box has a hole 31 and the handle has as desired. In case the a hole 32 so that the hasp of a padlock 33 or a sealing wire may be passed through 'for securing the handle, the cover and the box together and )reventing operation of the switch when tl'ie parts are thus locked o1' sealed. v

It will be obvious that changes may be made in the details of construction and the proportions and arrangements of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope ot' my invention.

'1. In an inclosed switch construction, the combination of a spring operated switch member, an operating shaft, an inclosure i'or said parts comprising a boX having a hinged cover, said shaft having one end projecting from said inclosure and extending at substantially right angles to the axis of the shaft; an operating handle pivoted to oscillate about said shaft and having two projecting lugs spaced apart from cach other for engaging the end of said shaft, a stationary stop on the box for limiting the movement of said handle in one direction and a stop on the cover for limiting the movement of the handle in the opposite direction, said stop heilig disposed to engage said handle when the cover is moved, to throw the handle in a switch opening direction.

2. In an inclosed switch construction, the combination of a spring operated switch member, an operating shaft, an inclosure for said parts, said shat't. having one end projecting from said inclosure and extending at substantially right angles to the axis of the shaft, an operating handle pivoted to oscillate about said shaft and having two projecting lugs spaced apart from each other for engaging the projecting end of said shaft, a stationary stop for limiting the movement of said handle in one direction and a hinged cover for said inclosurehaving a stop for imparting a switch opening movement to the handle when the cover is opened.

3. In an inclosed switch construction, the combination of a switch having a spring operated member, a box inclosing the switch mechanism and including a hinged cover, an operating member having a portion inside of said inclosure and a portion projecting outside at' said inclosure and Vforming an arm, an operating handle pivoted to the body of said inclosure and having two shoulders spaced apart from cach other and adapted to engage said arm and a shoulder carried by the cover adapted to engage one of the shoulders carried by said arm.

4:. In. an inclosed switch construction, the combination of switch mechanism including a spring operated switch member, a shaft for operating the same having an arm and an elbow, an inclosure for the switch mechanism including a body and a hinged cover, said elbow being arranged exterior to said inclosure, an operating ha-ndle having spaced apart shoulders adapted to enga-ge said arm and a shoulder carried by said cover adapted to engage saidelbow for throwing the M switch to open the circuit when the cover is being closed.

5. Inv an inclosed switch construction, the combination of switch mechanism including a spring operated switch 'memben a shaft for operatingr the saine having an arm and an elbow, an inclosure for' the switch mechanism including a body and a hinged cover` said elbow being arranged exterior to said inclosure` an operating handle having spaced apart shoulders adapted to engage said' arm and a shoulder adapted to engage one ot the shoulders on said arm :tor throwing the switch to open the circuit Whe-n the cover is being opened.

6. In a switch construction, the combina-v tion of switch mechanism including a base, stationary switch contacts and a movable switch member, an inclosure therefor including a box body and a cover, 'Ui-shaped springs located between the sides of the switch base and the sides of the box body, an operating shaft having bearings in the box body and having an oit-set portion for operating said movable switch mein'- bcr. an operating handle mounted to oscillate with respect to said shaft, means of connection between said handle and said shaft permitting limited freedom of movement of said handle with respect to said shaft and interengaging parts carried by said handle and said cover respectively for automatically operating the switch to open the circuit when the cover is opened.

7. In an inclosed switch construction` the combination of a movable switch member, an operating shaft therefor, having an exposed operating arm, an inclosure for the switch mechanism comprising a box having a hinged cover. an operating handle having spaced apartI shoulders adapted to engage the arm of the shat't and a shoulder on the. cover engaging the operating handle in the opening movement of the cover for operating said handle in the switch opening direction. v

CLARENCE l). PRATT. 

